A new study by Cornell University agricultural economists says family members who work on the family dairy farm make $22,000 less annually than comparable hired managers, but are handsomely compensated with “socioemotional” wealth. “While $22,000 seems like a large penalty, there are non-financial rewards they experience working for the family business,” Loren Tauer, professor at […] Read more
Farm kids: Don’t worry about wages
Researchers using big data to find feed-efficient dairy cattle
The goal is to develop a prediction tool for breeding cows that will eat less with no loss in productivity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers at the University of Alberta are looking to give producers a bit of a boost by isolating feed-efficient traits in dairy cattle. “We have an estimate that breeding for increased feed efficiency and reduced methane emission can reduce feed costs by about $100 per cow per year,” said Paul Stothard, an assistant professor of […] Read more
Cattle herd still shrinking in StatsCan estimates
The size of Canada’s cattle herd is still in decline and almost a quarter smaller than its peak in 2005, Statistics Canada reports. The federal statistics agency on Thursday released estimates showing the herd at 13 million cattle on farms on July 1 this year, down 2.1 per cent from the same date in 2014. […] Read more
U.K. grocers Morrisons, Aldi give ground in milk dispute
London | Reuters — British supermarkets Morrisons and Aldi responded on Friday to pressure from financially strapped dairy farmers by raising the price they pay milk suppliers. U.K. farmers have warned they face financial ruin, with falls in the price of milk forcing many out of work and spurring others to blockade distribution centres and […] Read more
Nominees sought for Alberta Milk award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are now open for the Alberta Milk Dairy Industry Achievement Award. The award recognizes the contributions of individuals or organizations to the leadership and development of Alberta’s dairy industry. These include: Volunteer efforts or committee work in service to the dairy industry; Agricultural education and youth activities in the dairy industry; Lobbying or championship […] Read more
U.K. farmers fear financial ruin from low milk prices
London | Reuters — British farmers warned Monday they were facing financial ruin, with falls in the price of milk forcing many out of work and spurring others to blockade distribution centres and walk cows through supermarkets. Farming unions from across the country were meeting in London to urge the government to provide more help […] Read more
Dairy farmers milk politics of Pacific trade pact
Reuters — New Zealand dairy farmers have a message for their Canadian counterparts, who worry a Pacific trade deal will throw them on the mercy of world markets and devastate their industry: It’s not so bad. But heavily protected Canadian farmers have reason for skepticism. A deadlock over dairy has emerged as one of the […] Read more
U.S. dairy group reaches milk price-fixing accord
Reuters — Dairy Farmers of America Inc. has agreed to pay US$50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in which farmers in the northeastern U.S. accused the marketing co-operative of conspiring to drive down milk prices. Settlement papers were filed on Thursday with the federal court in Burlington, Vermont, and require approval by U.S. District […] Read more
Japan wants N.Z. to make realistic offer on dairy goods
Tokyo | Reuters –– Japan wants New Zealand to offer realistic proposals on dairy products as part of 12-nation talks on a pan-Pacific trade agreement, a Japanese negotiator said Tuesday. Ministers failed last Friday to clinch a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal to free up trade after a dispute flared up over auto trade between Japan […] Read more
TPP talks fail to end in deal
"The U.S. was on one side of the issue, while practically every other country were on the other side."
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
